Got Laid Off? Now What?

This is a very frustrating time. It is important to take steps to secure your needs. Begin by watching the video Ten Things to Do After a Layoff.

For assistance in unemployment or other personal assistance, try:

• Signing Up for Unemployment
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Texas Workforce Solutions
  • Work in Texas - Looking for a job - register here!
  • Frequently Asked Questions for Work In Texas

  • Survivng a Layoff : You'll find pages with information about everything from Hot Jobs, Job Fairs, and Job Readiness Workshops to assistance for filing for Unemployment Insurance benefits or Community Resources assistance while you search. 

• Job Search Sites with a Texas focus
  • TexasJobs.com
  • Indeed.com (Texas)
• Project RIO (Job Assistance for Ex-Offenders) 

Food/Financial Assistance:

SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps) has local offices.

Screening for services in Texas such as SNAP, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Medicaid, and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program).

• Find out if you are eligible.
• Income Questionnaire (English) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)

Housing Assistance

Rental Assistance:  Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs- Search by county or city for local housing assistance.

HUD Home Ownership Assistance - Search by city, county or regional services.

Special Needs/Disability Services

Disability.gov - Provides easy access to disability-related information and resources such as housing, transitional services and health care.

The busiest times are Mondays and the first week of each month.  Avoid these times if possible.

Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services - Disability Determination Services

Health Assistance

• Screening for services, such as Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), that are available in Texas.
• Immunizations - Women, Infants and Children Program (Food, Immunizations, Referrals for other services)
  • Who is Eligible?
  • Income Questionnaire (English) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)
• Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
  • Services for Persons with Hearing Loss
  • Services for Persons with Vision Loss
  • Services for Persons with Physical or Mental Disabilities
• Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide program for families with children, birth to three, with disabilities and developmental delays.

Workplace Skills

If you are new to the computer, it is suggested that you first go through tutorials to learn basic computer skills.

One of the first steps is to optimize your workplace skills. Everyone has experience in something – show how what you know can be used in specific jobs.

• Decision Making Skills
• Job Transition Assistance – changing careers
• Time Management
• Transferable Job Skills – Sell Yourself

If you have not looked for a job recently, it is wise to review your resume and job interview skills. The expectations of employers change every five years or so.

When you have your resume, starting looking for your job. Don't wait for your resume to be perfect, you can continue polishing as you search.